On Friday, April 19th, Firehouse 12 is pleased to welcome pianist Dan Tepfer and woodwind player Ben Wendel as they celebrate the release of their new duo album Small Constructions (Sunnyside Records). Tepfer and Wendel perform interpretations of Thelonious Monk and Johann Sebastian Bach in addition to their own original compositions.

Tepfer has been called "a player of exceptional poise who is drawn to the deeper currents of melody" (Nate Chinen, New York Times). Wendel has been praised as "a composer with a restless sonic ear" (Chris Barton, LA Times). Peter Hum of the Ottawa Citizen wrote that their new album reflects "not only keen compositional and performance abilities, but also much savvy when it comes to speedily and intuitively arranging and overdubbing so as to add richness and sparkle."

Grammy nominated musician Ben Wendel was educated at the Eastman School of Music in New York. Since graduating he has enjoyed a varied career as a performer, composer, producer and most recently, conductor. Ben is a founding member of the Grammy nominated group Kneebody. Dan Tepfer has made a name for himself as a pianist-composer of wide-ranging ambition and individuality. He has performed with some of the leading lights in jazz, including extensively with veteran saxophone luminary Lee Konitz. Tepfer was voted a Best New Artist in JazzTimes in 2010 and a Rising Star in DownBeat in 2011.